Imperial Beach closed to swimmers due to contaminated runoff

IMPERIAL BEACH (CNS) - Imperial Beach is closed to swimmers Monday because recent rainfall has likely pushed sewage-contaminated runoff from the Tijuana River toward the South County shoreline.

The county Department of Environmental Health on Sunday expanded its existing water contact closure at the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge shoreline north to include Imperial Beach. Last week's storm pushed sewage-contaminated runoff from near the U.S.-Mexico border into the Tijuana Estuary.

County officials said water samples indicated the ocean water off Imperial Beach was likely contaminated. Signs warning of the contamination were placed in the area and will remain up until tests indicate the ocean water is again safe for recreational use.